GDF, India explore expanded military cooperation

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Indian Armed Forces are exploring ways to strengthen military cooperation in training, equipment and technical support across the land, air, maritime and cyber domains.
The discussions began with a meeting between GDF Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, and Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Chinmoy Naik and a visiting Military Training and Advisory Team (MTAT) led by Colonel Jaydeep Koley, Colonel, Co-ordination-Perspective Planning.

GDF in a post on their social media page said that the visit is part of ongoing defence engagement between Guyana and India and follows Brigadier Khan’s visit to India in November 2024.
During that visit, Khan met senior Indian defence officials and toured military equipment manufacturing facilities. Discussions focused on opportunities for training, equipment acquisition and closer military cooperation between the two countries.
According to the GDF, Khan welcomed the multidisciplinary Indian team and stressed the need for bilateral defence cooperation to be aligned with the Force’s operational requirements.
Naik reaffirmed India’s commitment to sustained defence engagement with Guyana and encouraged the GDF to utilise the expertise of the visiting team in identifying areas where further military support could be provided.
The opening engagement was also attended by Adjutant General Colonel Lloyd Souvenir, Colonel Administration and Quartering Commander Roger Nurse, Inspector General Colonel Natasha Stanford-Francis and other senior GDF officers.
The discussions examined the GDF’s existing capabilities, operational requirements and areas in which Indian military assistance could potentially be provided.
Commander Nurse has been designated the GDF’s coordinator for the defence cooperation process. He welcomed the consultations and said they could provide a basis for further collaboration between the two forces.
As part of the visit, the Indian team is scheduled to tour several GDF bases and units, including the Air Corps, infantry battalions and Coast Guard facilities.
The GDF said that the visits are intended to provide the Indian team with a clearer assessment of the GDF’s capabilities and operational needs and help identify specific areas where Indian assistance could be applied.
The findings from the assessment are expected to inform future defence cooperation, with emphasis on priority capability requirements and support that is consistent with the GDF’s responsibility for the defence of Guyana.